North Recap | Round 11 Friday

Image credit: @schulz.sports.media

The Logan Thunder women improved to 10-1 this NBL1 North season with Leah Scott putting up 33 points while the defending champion Mackay Meteors got the important win with Manny Malou and Makuach Maluach combining for 48 points.

NORTH RECAP | FIRST NATIONS ROUND SUNDAY

WOMEN

Mackay Meteorettes (66) lost to Logan Thunder (87)

Logan Thunder joined the Southern Districts Spartans on 10-1 record in top spot with the 87-66 victory over a Mackay Meteorettes team who had been sitting third.

Coming into the Friday night match up in the third last round of the regular season at Mackay Basketball Stadium with the Meteorettes trying to stay in touch of a top two spot and the Thunder to close the gap on the league-leading Spartans.

That set the stage for a fascinating match up to open Round 11 and it was Mackay making the hot start on their home floor racing out to an 11-point lead on the back of an 8-0 scoring run.

Logan did respond to cut that Mackay lead to just 20-18 by the end of the first quarter before the Thunder took control in the second frame with 25 points to 15.

The Thunder knocked down 5/10 from behind the three-point arc in that second period to go into half-time leading 43-35.

Logan then further took control in the third quarter with 27 points to 15 before leading by as much as 27 points and then securing the 21-point victory in the battle of second against third coming into the round.

Logan improves to a 10-1 record as a result of the victory with three matches remaining against Rockhampton, Brisbane and South West Metro.

The Thunder finished up shooting 44 per cent from the field to the 32 from the Meteorettes even with Mackay taking 36 free-throw attempts to 21.

Logan also forced the Meteorettes into 29 turnovers from which they were able to 20 points from with Leah Scott producing 33 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals on 10/18 shooting from the field and 12/13 at the foul line.

Mikhaela Cann added 22 points, three rebounds and three assists with 4/6 three-point shooting while Amandina Toi delivered 14 points, three assists and three boards, and Sharni Reisinger eight points, five rebounds and two steals.

Mackay are now 9-4 on the season and have only one more game left to play which will be on Saturday June 26 on the road to the Rockhampton Cyclones which by that point they might need to win to make the finals.

Unique Thompson finished with 26 points, 22 rebounds and two steals while Amari Robinson added 12 points, four boards and two assists, and Cheyenne Bobongie 12 points, six assists, three steals and two rebounds.

MACKAY METEORETTES 66 (Thompson 26, Bobongie 12, Robinson 12)

LOGAN THUNDER 87 (Scott 33, Cann 22, Toi 14)

MEN

Mackay Meteors (105) defeated Logan Thunder (97)

Jerron Jamerson remained coaching the Mackay Meteors while out injured and he made it two wins from three games since the change with the defending champions beating Logan Thunder 105-97.

The Meteors decided to move on coach Matt Paps two weeks ago with the plan for Brad Rasmussen to take over in a playing-coaching capacity, but with Jamerson out injured at present, it makes sense for him to coach while Rasmussen can be a playing-assistant coach.

Mackay split their two games last weekend with Jamerson coaching with a win against the Townsville Heat before a loss on Sunday to the Cairns Marlins ahead of hosting Logan on Friday at Mackay Basketball Stadium.

Mackay were trying to stay in touch for a top two finish while Logan were clinging to sixth place so there was plenty on the line for both teams.

It was a flying start from the Meteors on their home floor with 34 points to 24 on the back of shooting 12/22 from the floor opposed to the 10/20 from Logan.

Mackay's lead blew out to 17 points in the second term and they went into half-time on top 61-50 in what had been an entertaining and high scoring opening half.

The Meteors maintained a double digit lead throughout most of the second half with Logan never able to get back closer than eight points which would be the final margin in favour of Mackay.

The win for the Meteors improves the defending champions to an 8-5 record with just one game in the regular season to go on the road to the Rockhampton Rockets.

Manny Malou played a starring role in the win once more for Mackay delivering 26 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots with 4/6 three-point shooting.

Makuach Maluach also added 22 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals with Cameron Goldfinch contributing 16 points, five boards and three assists, Jaxon Brenchley 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists, and Akol Mawein eight points, four boards, four steals and three assists.

Logan have now lost consecutive matches to sit on a 5-6 record still with three matches to go against Rockhampton, Brisbane and South West Metro.

Zac Triplett produced 33 points, five rebounds and five assists for Logan with Elijah Puna adding 12 points, four boards and three assists, and Callum Dalton 12 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

Tane Kirisome also had 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, Tyrone Fui 11 points on 3/4 three-point shooting, and Tom Howard 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.

MACKAY METEORS 105 (Malou 26, Maluach 22, Goldfinch 16)

LOGAN THUNDER 97 (Triplett 33, Dalton 12, Puna 12)